Ending off a year is always an interesting time. We always use these milestones in time to think and reflect both on the good and the bad of the time that has passed. It's really easy to get hung up on all the things you wish you would have done, wouldn't have done, would have done better, would have done more of. I think that natural for all people who are driven and motivated, it's what keeps up pushing to be better and wanting more. That said, we can't forget to celebrate our highlights and achievements as those are just as important to keeping the fire burning as we move forward and keep pushing.

2015 was quite a wild ride. From taking on new commercial clients, to shooting more editorial assignments (including my first national magazine cover), to getting sent on international assignments; it's hard to imagine that everything that has happened in 2015 all fit into a single year. I got to photograph some incredible people, shoot in some of the coolest and also most bizarre locations, and worked with a lot of new and really great crew on so many great productions.

This year I also pushed my skills and abilities harder than ever before. Both through some pretty demanding jobs and my own personal projects, I really had to max out my knowledge and stretch for more. I pushed myself to get more comfortable harnessing natural light, I pushed myself to better understand mixing the sun and strobes, and especially pushed my ability to execute more complex lighting in the studio and on location. I pushed my abilities to work hard under pressure, adapt to tough scenarios, and deliver results under the most demanding deadlines. I also made an effort to push my abilities to shoot and stitch together composites to put together some very detailed single images.

While I really pushed on the technical front, I also remembered the importance of simplicity. Especially in portraiture, nothing is more important than how you interact with your subjects and knowing how to get the best out of them. It doesn't matter how many lights you used or what camera you shot with. All that matters is you and your subject. I think that will always remain the most challenging part but also what I love most and keeps me excited to shoot portraits every time.

2015 was a great year full of incredible memories, awesome assignments, and a deep stack of images that I'm really proud to have shot. I am truly grateful for all of my collaborators, subjects, clients, assistants, believers, and supporters for helping me make it through and for making this year so great. I am so excited for the ball to drop on 2015 and for the curtain to open on 2016 and everything it holds. I have some good feelings about this year to come and I can't wait to share the ride with you all!